"We are honored to have UC Merced participate in the pilot program of what is sure to become a valuable resource in determining the effectiveness of sustainability efforts in landscaping," said Thomas Lollini, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), associate vice chancellor for physical planning, design and construction.

"The university has set new standards for sustainability in building design and construction and will remain dedicated to preserving our environmental resources in any way we can," Lollini added.

UC Merced will use its planned Science and Engineering 2 building as the template for the pilot project. Like the other pilot projects, the site will help officials evaluate how practical and effective a tool the point system is for determining different levels of site sustainability, the release stated.